April Reading Wrap-Up
A Snapshot of What I Read
April had big “surprise, you’re busier than you thought” energy. I somehow ended up juggling way more ARCs and ALCs than I realized, but honestly? I had a blast with most of them. Between deadlines, mood‑reading impulses, and a sudden wave of Romantasy taking over my month, April felt full in the best, most chaotic way. I’m excited to share everything I read.
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Quick Stats
- Books read: 18
- Average rating: 3.44 ★
- Dominant emotional lane: Deep Sapphire
- Most common genre: Romantasy
- Reading Format: 4 Audiobooks, 6 eBooks, 8 Audiobooks + eBooks
- Total Pages: 6,586
- ARC/ALC Books: 10
Note: I’m a hybrid reader, so many of my books count as both an audiobook and an eBook because I read and listen at the same time.
Curious how I rate books? My Rating System breaks down my emotional lanes and star scale, and you can also see my individual reviews for these reads on my Goodreads page.
Emotional Lane Breakdown
- ✨Golden Comfort: 3
- 💙Sapphire Angst: 3
- 💎Deep Sapphire: 9
- 🖤Onyx Chaos: 2
- ⚫Obsidian Edge: 1
Top Reads
Pen Pal – J.T. Geissinger (4.5★ | Libby Audiobook + KU)
This book disoriented me in the best possible way. I spent the entire time questioning everything: what was real, what was imagined, whether she was losing her grip on reality, and why nothing felt stable. The atmosphere is so eerie and uncanny that I kept second‑guessing every detail, and that tension pulled me straight through the story. What surprised me most was how emotional it became once the mystery settled, because Aiden’s intensity, softness, and quiet vulnerability hit me hard and made the entire journey feel so much heavier than I expected.
Monster’s Prey (Monster Duet #1) – A.V. Blackmoor (4.25★ | ARC – Available on KU)
This book is genuinely dark, the kind of emotional and psychological heaviness that makes you tense without realizing it. Quill is morally black in every sense, shaped by a brutal past that left him cold, calculating, and as close to a true psychopath as a dark romance MMC can get. Piper’s reactions make complete sense once you understand the years of peer abuse and emotional neglect she survived, and the past and present POVs pulled me straight into their messy, painful connection. The secret society thread adds an ominous pressure that builds with every chapter, and the cliffhanger wrecked me so completely that I wanted the next book immediately.
Watch Me (The Halcyon Duet #1) – Maria Rahaman (4★ | ARC -Available on KU)
This book crawled under my skin and refused to leave. It is messy, obsessive, and deeply unsettling, the kind of dark romance where devotion turns toxic and then completely deranged. Marek is both predator and protector, a man whose loyalty feels dangerous and consuming, and the atmosphere around him is so ominous it feels like the building itself is watching. Ayliara’s trauma responses are painfully believable, and together they create a psychological tension that is disturbing in a way I could not look away from. The cliffhanger leaves just enough space for her next move, and the unanswered questions about Halcyon and Marek’s past have me ready for Book 2.
A Trial of the Heart (Valdor Series #2) – J.E. Larson (4★ | KU)
This book pulled me in so much harder than book one. The trials were wild, the danger never let up, and the last stretch had my heart pounding. Sky’s growth hit me emotionally, and Daxton’s trauma and protectiveness added so much weight to their connection. The worldbuilding expands in all the right ways, and the cliffhanger was brutal in the best way. I finished this feeling even more attached to the story and desperate for the next book.
Reflection & May Preview
April was a strange, satisfying mix of surprises. I read 10 ARCs/ALCs, which is wild for me, and even though the month didn’t deliver any 5‑star reads, it still felt emotionally rich. Deep Sapphire ended up being my most‑read lane, sometimes lighter and sometimes full angst, and Romantasy unexpectedly became my dominant genre. Even the books that landed in the 3–3.5 star range stuck with me more than I expected, and a few of them opened the door to new series I’m excited to continue.
The rating spread this month was definitely unusual, but not in a discouraging way. It reminded me that even when a book isn’t a perfect fit, it can still be memorable, atmospheric, or emotionally interesting. And the ones that did hit? They hit hard.
May is already shaping up to be a lighter, more flexible reading month. And honestly, I’m ready for it. After tackling so many ARCs and ALCs in April, I’m keeping things simple with just the three I already have scheduled:
- (ALC) The Roommate Rules by Brighton Walsh — and yes, I’m absolutely here for Aiden Snow narrating.
- (ARC) Trashy by K.L. Thorne
- (ARC) The Lion’s Den (Book 2) by Alina Hurtado — one of my most anticipated sequels this year.
Everything else? Pure mood‑reading chaos. I’m chasing whatever book decides to ruin me in the best way.
I’m especially excited to continue a few series I started in April —
- Monster’s Claim by A.V. Blackmoor (the conclusion just dropped!)
- A Trial of Two Worlds and hopefully A Trial of War when it releases on May 24
- And if I can squeeze it in, Tides of Secrets, the sequel to a Romantasy I rated 5 stars back in March.
After such a packed April, May feels like the perfect time to follow my curiosity, sink into some worlds I already love, and hopefully find the book that absolutely devastates me.
If you want to explore more of the vibes I read this month, here are a few posts that pair well with April’s mix of Deep Sapphire emotion, Romantasy worlds, and darker romance edges:
- To Cage a Wild Bird – Deep Dive: a spoiler‑heavy exploration of longing, restraint, and the emotional landmines of book one
- A Trial of Fate by J.E. Larson Book Review: a romantasy review centered on elemental magic, political tension, and quiet emotional pressure
- 6 Deep Sapphire Romance Books: a curated list of Deep Sapphire romances shaped by internal danger and emotional healing
- Bloody Quarter by Brooklyn Cross Book Review: a psychologically tense, danger‑driven dark romance review that never softens its edges
- 4 Complete Romantasy Series on KU: a guide to complete Romantasy series when you want magic without the wait
The Emotional Borrow — A Little About My Approach
I read for the feeling a story leaves behind — the emotional borrow you carry with you after the last page. When I recommend something, it’s because the book delivered on what it promised: the tropes, the tone, the emotional payoff, and the overall experience.
I move through a lot of books across Kindle Unlimited and Audible, which means I’m always paying attention to what the genre is doing right now. I look for stories that land their beats, honor their setup, and make your time feel well spent.
Every pick I share comes from that lens: thoughtful, current, and focused on how the book actually reads, not just how it’s marketed.
Transparency is non-negotiable for me. You can read my full Review Policy for details on how I handle links and honest reviews.